Mayors from Canterbury and Waitaki are standing together and have developed a strategy that sets a fresh economic direction for the regions.
The Canterbury Regional Economic Development Strategy, launched last week, identifies ways to attract, upskill and maintain skilled workers, and how to position the regions for long term growth.
Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher is a member of the Canterbury Mayoral Forum which has developed the strategy to ''re energise'' economic activity in Canterbury and Waitaki.
Mr Kircher said it was a ''great milestone''.
''Even though the strategy is named the Canterbury Regional Economic Development Strategy it very much applies to Waitaki as well,'' he said.
''We have a common goal to make the most of our resources to build a strong, diversified economy with resilient, connected communities and a better quality of life for all.''
The report was released in a collaboration between 11 local authorities, with input from iwi, the Canterbury Development Corporation, the Canterbury Employers Chamber of Commerce and the Committee for Canterbury.
Mr Kircher said the mayors would provide leadership to keep all the work programmes strongly connected.
''For example, to grow tourism in Waitaki, reliable broadband and cell phone coverage across the whole region is required,'' he said.
''For both farming and manufacturing industries to thrive, more value needs to be added to primary resources.''
